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As a child growing up in a small New England town, I was raised to love the Red Sox. I have fond memories of watching players like Jim Rice and Carl Yastrzemski take the field at Fenway Park in the late 1970s. Ted Williams had been retired for many years by that time, but he still remained in the hearts and minds of baseball fans. I've been eagerly anticipating the release of Matt Tavares' latest picture book about Ted Williams. Part of my excitement comes from my own passion for baseball, but I also know this book will be extremely popular with the readers in my library.

Matt Tavares traces the rise of hitting sensation Ted Willams from a skinny boy growing up in the 1920s to one of baseball's greatest batters of all time. As a lanky teenager, Ted Williams was drafted by the New York Yankees, but he turned down the contract to play minor league baseball near his home in southern California. Eventually Williams went on to play for the Boston Red Sox. Williams had great success in the major leagues and closed the 1941 season with a .406 batting average.

This picture book biography with wide margins and short lines reads like free verse poetry. Tavares provides readers with highlights from Williams' career while capturing the excitement and emotion of the game.

He circles the bases,not runningbut leaping, bouncingalmost floating,jumping up and downand clapping his handsand laughingall the way to home plate.

There Goes Ted Williams is more than just a sports story. During Williams' career, he left baseball to serve as a pilot in World War II and the Korean War. During the Korean War, Williams made a tough decision to eject from his malfunctioning plane even though he could break both legs and end his baseball career. Williams walked away from the crash and returned to baseball several months later.

In the tradition of Mudball and Henry Aaron's Dream, Tavares' illustrations are detailed and full of life- the creases in the uniform, the shadow formed by the brim of the hat, the stitches on the baseball. The watercolor, gouache and pencil illustrations eloquently capture Williams' stance and facial expressions. In one intense scene, Williams is pictured in the foreground running away from a burning fighter jet. This is sure to capture the attention of even the most reluctant readers.

A list of Williams' stats by year and a bibliography are located in the back of the book. In an author's note, Tavares reveals that Williams was not perfect. He had a bad temper, he swore, and he had a tumultuous relationship with the media. Despite these flaws, the author set out to tell the story of a man who was one of the greatest hitters of all time and also served his country well. "The story of Ted Williams is the story of an American hero." Young baseball fans will scoop up this book; it would also make an inspiring story for an adult to share with a child. Pair this book with The Unforgettable Season: Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and the Record-Setting Summer of 1941 by Phil Bildner.

There Goes Ted Williams- Giveaway

Candlewick Press is giving away a copy of There Goes Ted Williams.

Fill out the entry form below for your chance to win.

Giveaway Rules

Complete the entry form below.

Only one entry per person will be accepted.

You must be 13 years or older to enter.

Entries will be accepted from 9 p.m. on Sunday, February 12, 2012 until 12:00 a.m. on Friday, February 17, 2012.

The winner will be contacted by email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, we will select a new winner.